New Freedom of Information (FOI) research has prompted calls for urgent protection of EV charge points, which are a critical pillar of the UK’s clean transport ambitions.
The first-of-its-kind investigation, which collected data from police forces nationwide, revealed 200 plus cases of theft and vandalism against EV chargers across the UK, costing millions of pounds.
Allego also cautioned that these figures are likely just the tip of the iceberg, with many incidents going unreported and 40% of surveyed police forces either unable to provide data or saying they do not hold relevant records.
Experts warn that as the EV network continues to expand at pace, so too does the opportunity for criminal activity, and that preventative action must be taken before the issue escalates.
Paz Sharma, Managing Director of leading charge point operator Allego UK – which was behind the FOI investigation – has joined growing calls for EV chargers to be recognised as critical infrastructure and for harsher penalties for those caught targeting these sites.
He is also advocating for the introduction of a new cross-collaborative ‘EV taskforce’ which brings together government, industry, law enforcement, the industry body ChargeUK and political groups like the Electric Vehicle All Party Parliamentary Group to explore ways to better protect charge points.
He said: “While we are far from crisis mode, this research is a warning sign that action needs to be taken to bring EV criminals to book. It’s not about the £25 scrap metal value or even the cost of replacing damaged chargers which runs into thousands of pounds – it’s about giving the nation the best chance of securing its clean transport future.
“Unfortunately, we believe this to be a much more serious problem than the figures indicate, as our FOI investigation flagged that a number of police forces were not in a position to provide information on such incidents. Based on what we hear from the industry and the prevalence of unreported cases, I wouldn’t be surprised if as many as one in twenty charging sites are being targeted.
“With the government targeting 300,000 public charge points by 2030, we need to nip this trend in the bud and show those targeting chargers that they will face the full force of the law.”
Paz also emphasised the role of industry in putting criminals on the radar of authorities and has written to both the Home Office and the National Police Chief’s Council calling for the creation of a virtual hotline for reporting EV crime.
He said this will not only give authorities a full national picture of incidents, but could also be used to help them track criminal gangs targeting chargers across jurisdictions.
Of the areas covered by the FOI study, Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire were the worst affected, with more than 100 reported cases of vandalism between them since 2022.
The research comes as the UK government accelerates the uptake of EVs, introducing measures to speed up infrastructure rollout, including a nearly £70 million package to support accessibility and relaxed planning rules for charge points.
In September the country recorded its highest ever monthly number of pure battery EV sales, nearly 73,000, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers.
However, damage caused by crime can leave chargers out of service, frustrating drivers and eroding confidence in the network. If left unchecked, experts warn this could slow the transition to electric vehicles and undermine the very investments designed to support it.
Vicky Read, CEO of ChargeUK said: “Cable theft has swiftly become one of most pressing issues facing the EV charging sector, creating a costly distraction to the nationwide roll out which is underway and ultimately negatively impacting drivers.
“Charge point operators are implementing innovative solutions to prevent this crime and we are working with members to share best practice and engage the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Ultimately, a collaborative response between the industry, police and the Home Office is required to tackle this growing problem.”
For more information, visit: https://www.allego.eu/
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